>> the city not for the faint of heart, but worth it when you're there. janet shamlian at the superdome in new orleans. janet, thanks. >>> if you bought gas over the weekend or today as the workweek got under way, then you have seen what has happened to the price of gas. aaa tells us the national average for regular is now $3.52 a gallon. that's up 17 cents in a week's time. 22 cents just in a month. and they are paying a whole lot more in a lot of states, including new york, california, where the price is close to $4 a gallon again. the question is, what are the oil companies telling us is the reason for it this time? our report tonight from nbc's tom costello. >> reporter: we've all heard about pain at the pump, but the pain is suddenly starting to bite. >> these higher gas prices definitely affect the way i budget my money. where i choose to live. and how i choose to spend my leisurely time. >> more conscious about the distance i'm driving, or carpooling a lot more also. >> reporter: why the sudden jump? drivers in the midwest have paid the price for a